5 months, and a growth spurt!

This little LaRock mister is really reminding me of Sammy.  I'm sure he'll be different in many ways, but the pregnancy and growth feel very familiar.  At our last appointment when I was in week 20, this baby measured at about 18 weeks.  I remember Sammy measuring small at one appointment, then at the next he had my midwife saying, "cut the bagels, mommy!".  It's really strange how my kids do that!  We'll see how I measure in a few weeks, but based on the way I look, and the amount of stretching I've felt, this kid's grown plenty!  I was looking at this photo of me when I was pregnant with Sammy.  Here I am 5 months with him:

The picture above is me at 5 months with our newest little man.  Yes, I think I just carry big and out front.

In other news, we were hit with a snow storm last night.  Our drive home from Purcellville was seriously crazy.  Thankfully Peter was with us and drove like a champ.  Visibility was terrible, and when we hit the mountain there were cars off the road everywhere!  We had to stop several times and clean off the wipers just to be able to see well enough to continue on.  We made it fine, albeit slowly, until about 1 mile from our house.  There's a road with a really large hill, and one needed speed to make it up.  Unfortunately, folks became stuck ahead of us, and there was oncoming traffic, so we got stuck.  One man who was hopelessly stuck took to pushing folks.  He helped us the first time, but we just slid.  So we turned around and prepared for attempt two.  The silly drivers behind us though, didn't note the stuck cars on the hill above OR the oncoming traffic and so passed us and created more stuck cars, grrrr.  FINALLY we had a clearing and went for it.  This time the gentleman pushing out cars got in front of our charge, (by mistake) and we once again came to a halt.  He graciously gave us another few good pushes and we made it.  It was very nice to get home and out of the snow.  I think we have between 8 to 10 inches.  I'm a fan, now that I'm home, warm and safe!
 

LaRock baby #2 and Sammy's pox.

Our newest addition is now 21 weeks old.  The following picture was taken at 20 weeks, but you get the idea.  He, (yep it's a he!) is growing  a lot.  He's started kicking a lot more, and I'm getting more excited to meet him!  This pregnancy has felt very similar to Sammy's.  I've had many of the same aches and pains, the morning sickness was almost exactly the same, and I'm carrying out front.  It's funny how it all kind of comes back.  I've been able to get out and walk alot, (Sam's been a trooper getting out in the cold). Exercise helped me so much in Sam's pregnancy.  So far the same is true with this one.  We're working with the same midwife we had with Sam.  I always love our appointments.  Peggy's really become a good friend, and we really like working with her.  We've also gotten to know the other midwife in the practice, and we really like her, too.

While we were home for Christmas, Sammy picked up the chicken pox from my brothers.  He handled it like a little trooper though.  

just starting to break out...

pox boy!

still smiling:-)

He's still got a few scabs, but other than that, he's back to normal.  He's such a goober.  He communicates so much now, and copies so many things he sees.  It's hard to believe that he'll be 2 in just a few more months!

We're getting back into the grind of things.  It's been really busy, but that seems to be the norm for most folks I talk with.  I realize that I often don't put a lot of words on my blog.  Maybe one day, when I have more time, or maybe when I make more time, ha, I'll type more.  

One last thing; just remembered.  I got a sewing machine for Christmas!  Thanks Dave and Liz!  I'm hoping to make quilts for each of my boys, (and one day one for me and my big boy).  I'll have to post progress on here.  I'm very excited to be getting back into some sewing.

Christmas in Illinois

 In 2010 we decided to spend Christmas with my family in Illinois.  We were able to take almost two weeks, and just enjoy spending time with them.  Before we left we had our first Virginia snow.  Sammy had a great time stomping around in it!

We took the train to overnight to Illinois again.  It wasn't so relaxing this time as last.  Samster decided to get up at 3am, and refused to go back to sleep.  Thankfully Peter and I took turns with him while the other slept.  But, needless to say, we were worn out by time we arrived at my folks.  My sister Jane brought her little cutie, Teddy over, and he and Sam got to hang out.  Sam had a very hard time sharing, (as the following pictures will demonstrate) but it was good for him! :-)

"but, I want both phones!"

waahhh, not gonna share!

okay, but I don't like this...

Below are some fun pictures of most of my family.  I didn't get any of Janessa and Justin or Jane and Jonathan (sorry guys!), but I think I got most of the others.

Judy and Jeanette

Trying Jeanette's glasses

Joanna and Judy, again with the glasses :-)

Joanna and Jeffrey

Sisters.  Don't ask me what Jeanette and Judy are doing here.

Aunties with their nephew.

awwww.

My "little brothers, Jeff and Jed.  Growing up!

Stud.

My mom and dad.

Jane, Teddy and Sam.  Jane's due with baby#2 in about 5 weeks!

We had fun visiting with friends, and just spending time with my family.  Sam had a great time getting to know his Cole aunts, uncles and grandparents better.

The trip home went much more smoothly.  Sam slept well on the train, and was mostly good.  He did manage to get the chicken pox from my brothers, but handled it very well.

For an update on baby LaRock #2 and Sammy's pox see the next post.  This one's getting long!

update!

I feel like I have come back to the land of the living!  Man, for those few months of all-day sickness, (I don't believe in morning sickness where I'm concerned) I really felt like I was just surviving.  My house will attest to that!  I do wonder how I managed to work full-time when I felt that sick with Sammy.  I guess the answer is; no toddler to chase.  This baby and the sickness have reminded me of the way that I felt with Sammy.  Thankfully I rarely throw up, but I feel like I'm going to throw up most of the time.  I am so grateful to the Lord that it is finally passing!  I had my days for sure when I wondered if I would ever feel better/normal again.  When I go through all-day sickness, I begin to think a lot about folks who have chronic illnesses.  I am amazed at the heart and attitudes they have to display day after day as they live with their new "normal".

This baby is doing very well per the visits with the midwife, and the fact that I've been so sick, haha.  It's not comforting to be told that being sick means a healthy baby, and yet, I guess there is a little comfort in it.  Here's a picture of the bump at 16 weeks.  This baby does seem to be showing a bit more than Sammy did at 16 weeks, but that's pretty typical of the 2nd baby, so I read :-)  If this one is anything like Sam, it'll pop out really fast in a few more weeks.

Speaking of Sam; he's doing well!  He's talking up a storm.  Much of it is jabber, but words are coming more and more often.  He loves "mones" (phones) and "ba bats" (buttons).  Right now he's watching Veggie Tales Esther, and he's singing the puppy's song right along with the lady.  Super cute!  Here are some pictures of him.

Trying on Daddy's shoes!

His "trash can car".  We don't have a ton of toys, but Sam deals well by creating his own.

Samster the hamster!

Driving his "car".

Thanks for bearing with my lack of posts.  It's been a rough few months, but I'm starting to feel like my old self, praise the Lord!!

Can't think of one...

A title that is.  As I have been lamenting on Facebook, I feel I often lack clever little one liners, titles, etc.  I think some people are just gifted with the kind of clever that makes us all laugh or remark at their amazing creativity. That is not me, and I am okay with that.

Because I am not coming up with a title for this post that I am happy with, I'll just leave it like that.

LaRock baby #2 now is!  I'm about 7 weeks.  This little one is due around May 26th, 2011.  I was hoping to keep it a secret longer, but starting at around week 6, this baby is making me as sick as my little Samster did, which means I have to drop out of things, which means I have to share the news.  People start suspecting when you eat a slice of toast for breakfast, a potato for lunch, and maybe a bit of toasted cheese for dinner.  They also tend to wonder when you begin to cover your nose for odors to avoid the gag reflex.  Ah...gotta love the first trimester.  It's fun to share the news with people anyhow.  I'm just praying these next few months go by quickly so that I can remember what it feels like to enjoy eating again!  The things we take for granted; seriously :-)

Peter is very excited about our newest addition.  He's pretty amazing with our little guy.  It'll be fun to have two crazy kiddos running around wrestling with daddy.

Folks have asked me if I prefer boy or girl, and I really don't have a strong preference.  I do have lots of boy clothes, and we already have a boy name picked out, (crazy kids we are), but either one will thrill us.

Last week we went to the Outer Banks.  How's that for a transition?  We met up with my sisters Jeanette, Joanna, Janessa and her husband, Justin.  Joseph, my brother, also came down for a few days.  We had a good time.  I felt pretty well until the Friday we left; Praise the Lord!  I went boogie boarding with Peter which is always a treat.  I spent a lot of time resting on the beach.  We set up a tent for Sammy, and he took his nap in there each afternoon.  It was nice to have him right there, and to be able to rest, too.  It was fun to see my family, too.  Here are some pictures!

daddy's my buddy...

In the morning I like to help daddy make breakfast.  When mommy was so sick when she was pregnant with me, daddy started making breakfast, and he's kept up this tradition.  I like to help him cook stuff with my awesome spoon and pan!

Here daddy's teaching me a new cooking trick.

I really love daddy.  I like the way he lets me help him.

Here I am helping daddy wash and wax the car.  Aren't I such a good helper to daddy?

I just love water...

and tubs to put water in...

but the hose is my favorite by far.

At the end of a long day, this is the best place in the world to be.  Safe, next to my daddy.

Wuv Wuv, dada!

haircut, domesticity, and whitey tighties!

The curls finally went.  It's funny, now that they are gone, my little baby looks a lot more like a little boy.  While I miss how super cute they were, it was high time Sam was recognized as Samuel and not Samantha!  I think the lack of humidity kept the curls from tightening up lately, and he was looking feminine and had a mullet.  Here he is about 2 weeks ago:

And here he is now looking handsome!

About 3 weeks ago I started potty training Sam.  I've started early with the hopes that I can stop buying diapers for Sam when the next little LaRock decides to join us, (no this is not an announcement.)  I was really good about working with him for about a week, but then I started slacking.  I'd catch the #2's in the potty, but I missed a lot of #1's.  Today we started back in earnest; every 20 minutes we hit the potty.  This morning was a total failure--felt like I was cleaning up after a puppy, and had a blowout on my bedroom floor; however, this afternoon was much more successful!  We managed to keep his whitey tighties dry all afternoon!  I had to wash all 6 pairs by naptime, lol.  Here is is showing them off:-)

He's really been a fun toddler so far.  I've really been enjoying this season of his life.  He was a pretty demanding infant, and I find his growing independence mostly refreshing!  He has some bad habits though.  For instance: when I'm working on dinner or washing dishes, he'll come up between me and the sink and give me a shove.  He still hates it when I give someone or something else any attention.  He bites me when I try to work on the computer when he's awake.  He's started collapsing when he doesn't get his way, bleh.  But, he's also a little sweetheart who loves to give everyone "bah" (kisses), says "thank you" often, and giggles lots when he plays with daddy and mommy.  Right now he'll wake up in the morning, fuss and little and say, "mama, mama".  I love this!  All in all, we're loving this little cutie lots and lots.

Oh, please note the lovely white grout in this photo.  Last weekend, Peter scrubbed our grout and sealed it.  What a blessing!  It was getting really gross and needed this badly.  It was a hard job, but my man did it and didn't complain.  I love him so much!

In other news, I finally bought some fabric (Peter eyed it, and I love how it looks) and pinned this curtain together for our downstairs bathroom.  I haven't hemmed it yet, but you can see how much this improves this little room already!

The water heater is in this bathroom, and it's always been a little tacky

Here is a shot with the curtain pulled back.

And here is the finished look.  Much better!

There you have some updates on us!